Notification of a mobile unit out of coverage

• US 6,055,426 A
• Filed: 06/17/1997
• Issued: 04/25/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: 21ST CENTURY GARAGE LLC
• Original Assignee: Highway Master Communications Inc.
• Inventors: Beasley, Dale E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bost, Dwayne D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WYCHE, MYRON
• Application Number:
  US08/876,965
• Time in Patent Office: 1,043 Days
• Field of Search: 451/421, 451/432, 451/427, 451/456, 451/422, 451/435
• US Class Current: 455/432.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/06 De-registration or detaching
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/08 Mobility data transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/06 Airborne or Satellite Networks space-based or airborne stations H04B7/185
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A communication system includes a mobile unit that communicates with a platform using a cellular telephone network or a data communication network. The mobile unit informs the platform when it is out of coverage or out of service to reduce or eliminate unsuccessful attempts to communicate with the mobile unit. The communication system also supports the transmission of data using the data communication network.

Claims

1. A communication system comprising:

a mobile unit coupled to a cellular telephone network and a data communication network, the mobile unit operable to transmit, using the data communication network, a message that the mobile unit will no longer receive service from the cellular telephone network; and

a platform coupled to the cellular telephone network and the data communication network, the platform operable to receive the message that the mobile unit will no longer receive service from the cellular telephone network and, in response, to cease attempts to communicate with the mobile unit using the cellular telephone network.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the mobile unit comprises a satellite data transmitter coupled to the data communication network; and

the platform comprises a satellite data receiver coupled to the data communication network.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the message that the mobile unit will no longer receive service from the cellular telephone network includes the current geographic position of the mobile unit.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the message that the mobile unit will no longer receive service from the cellular telephone network includes a system identification number of the cellular telephone system most recently serving the mobile unit.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the platform is further operable to transmit priority data to the mobile unit using the data communication network after receiving the message that the mobile unit will no longer receive service from the cellular telephone network.

6. A mobile unit comprising:

a cellular telephone coupled to a cellular telephone network;

a data transmitter coupled to a data communication network; and

a processor coupled to the cellular telephone and the data transmitter, the processor operable to determine that the cellular telephone will no longer receive service from the cellular telephone network and, in response, to direct the data transmitter to transmit a message that the mobile unit will no longer receive service from the cellular telephone network.

7. The mobile unit of claim 6, wherein the processor determines that the cellular telephone will no longer receive service from the cellular telephone network when the cellular telephone reports a loss in communication with the cellular telephone network.

8. The mobile unit of claim 6, further comprising:

a positioning device operable to generate a geographic position of the mobile unit; and

a memory operable to store a cellular coverage map, wherein the processor determines that the cellular telephone will no longer receive service from the cellular telephone network by comparing the geographic position of the mobile unit to the cellular coverage map.

9. The mobile unit of claim 6, wherein the processor determines that the cellular telephone will no longer receive service from the cellular telephone network when the processor receives a request to power down the mobile unit.

10. The mobile unit of claim 6, wherein the data transmitter comprises a satellite data transmitter.

11. The mobile unit of claim 6, wherein the data transmitter is further operable to transmit priority data using the data communication network after transmitting the message that the mobile unit will no longer receive service from the cellular telephone network.

12. The mobile unit of claim 6, further comprising a positioning device operable to generate a geographic position of the mobile unit, wherein the geographic position of the mobile unit is included in the message that the mobile unit will no longer receive service from the cellular telephone network.

13. The mobile unit of claim 6, wherein the message that the mobile unit will no longer receive service from the cellular telephone network includes a system identification number of the cellular telephone system most recently serving the mobile unit.

14. A telecommunication platform comprising:

a first link coupled to a cellular telephone network and operable to communicate with a mobile unit equipped with a cellular telephone;

a second link operable to receive a call to be delivered to the mobile unit;

a data receiver coupled to a data communication network, the data receiver operable to receive a message generated by the mobile unit indicating that the mobile unit will no longer receive service from the cellular telephone network; and

a processor coupled to the data receiver, the processor operable to prevent delivery of the call to the mobile unit upon reception of the message that the mobile unit will no longer receive service from the cellular telephone network.

15. The telecommunication platform of claim 14, wherein the message that the mobile unit will no longer receive service from the cellular telephone network indicates that the mobile unit has entered an area not covered by the cellular telephone network.

16. The telecommunication platform of claim 14, wherein the message that the mobile unit will no longer receive service from the cellular telephone network indicates that the mobile unit has powered down.

17. The telecommunication platform of claim 14, wherein the data receiver comprises a satellite data receiver.

18. The telecommunication platform of claim 14, further comprising a data transmitter coupled to the data communication network, the data transmitter operable to transmit priority data to the mobile unit using the data communication network after receiving the message that the mobile unit will no longer receive service from the cellular telephone network.

19. The telecommunication platform of claim 14, wherein the message that the mobile unit will no longer receive service from the cellular telephone network includes a system identification number of the cellular telephone system most recently serving the mobile unit.

20. A method for communicating at a mobile unit, the mobile unit comprising a cellular telephone coupled to a cellular telephone network and a data transmitter coupled to a data communication network, the method comprising the following steps performed at the mobile unit:

determining that the cellular telephone will no longer receive service from the cellular telephone network; and

transmitting a message that the mobile unit will no longer receive service from the cellular telephone network using the data transmitter and the data communication network.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the step of determining comprises detecting a loss in communication between the cellular telephone and the cellular telephone network.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the step of determining comprises detecting a request to power down the mobile unit.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein the step of determining comprises:

receiving a geographic position of the mobile unit from a positioning device; and

comparing the geographic position of the mobile unit to a cellular coverage map stored at the mobile unit.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein the data transmitter comprises a satellite data transmitter.

25. The method of claim 20, further comprising the following steps performed after transmitting a message that the mobile unit will no longer receive service from the cellular telephone network:

receiving data to transmit from the mobile unit to a remote location;

determining a priority associated with the data; and

transmitting the data from the mobile unit using the data transmitter and the data communication network in response to the determined priority.

26. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

receiving a geographic position of the mobile unit from a positioning device; and

transmitting the geographic position with the indication that the mobile unit will no longer receive service from the cellular telephone network.

27. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

receiving a system identification number of the cellular telephone system most recently serving the mobile unit; and

transmitting the system identification number with the indication that the mobile unit will no longer receive service from the cellular telephone network.

28. A method for communicating comprising the following steps performed at a telecommunication platform:

receiving a call to be delivered to a mobile unit having a cellular telephone coupled to a cellular telephone network;

receiving, at a data receiver coupled to a data communication network, a message that the mobile unit will no longer receive service from the cellular telephone network; and

preventing delivery of the call to the mobile unit upon reception of the message that the mobile unit will no longer receive service from the cellular telephone network.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the message that the mobile unit will no longer receive service from the cellular telephone network indicates that the mobile unit has entered an area not covered by the cellular telephone network.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein the message that the mobile unit will no longer receive service from the cellular telephone network indicates that the mobile unit has powered down.

31. The method of claim 28, wherein the data receiver comprises a satellite data receiver.

32. The method of claim 28, further comprising the following steps performed after receiving a message that the mobile unit will no longer receive service from the cellular telephone network:

receiving data to transmit to the mobile unit;

determining a priority associated with the data; and

transmitting the data to the mobile unit using the data transmitter and the data communication network in response to the determined priority.